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Lone Star Nation (Abridged): How a Ragged Army of Courageous Volunteers Won the Battle for Texas Independence Audiobook
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(4.02) - 262 listener ratings
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From bestselling historian and long-time Texan H. W. Brands, a richly textured history of one of the most fascinating and colorful eras in U.S. history—the Texas Revolution and the forging of a new America. “For better or for worse, Texas was very much like America. The people ruled, and little could stop them. If they ignored national boundaries, if they trampled the rights of indigenous peoples and of imported bondsmen, if they waged war for motives that started from base self-interest, all this came with the territory of democracy, a realm inhabited by ordinarily imperfect men and women. The one saving grace of democracy—the one that made all the difference in the end—was that sooner or later, sometimes after a terrible strife, democracy corrected its worst mistakes.” —from Lone Star Nation Lone Star Nation is the gripping story of Texas’s precarious journey to statehood, from its early colonization in the 1820s to the shocking massacres of Texas loyalists at the Alamo and Goliad by the Mexican army, from its rough-and-tumble years as a land overrun by the Comanches to its day of liberation as an upstart republic. H. W. Brands tells the turbulent story of Texas through the eyes of a colorful cast of characters who have become a permanent fixture in the American landscape: Stephen Austin, the state’s reluctant founder; Sam Houston, the alcoholic former governor who came to lead the Texas army in its hour of crisis and glory; William Travis, James Bowie, and David Crockett, the unforgettable heroic defenders of the doomed Alamo; Santa Anna, the Mexican generalissimo and dictator whose ruthless tactics galvanized the colonists against him; and the white-haired President Andrew Jackson whose expansionist aspirations loomed large in the background. Beyond these luminaries, Brands unearths the untold stories of the forgotten Texans—the slaves, women, unknown settlers, and children left out of traditional histories—who played crucial roles in Texas’s birth. By turns bloody and heroic, tragic and triumphant, this riveting history of one of our greatest states reads like the most compelling fiction, and further secures H. W. Brands’s position as one of the premier American historians.
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"Brands quotes more from actual documents than other authors that I have read on the same subject. The author reproduces a portion of a report from an official of the government of Mexico dated 1830, for example. Further, he does not merely idolize the individuals behind the Texan Revolution against Mexico, he shows their flaws as well."
— Petri (4 out of 5 stars)
Lone Star Nation Listener Reviews
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" This was a good book, telling the story of the founding of the State of Texas up to the Civial War and including lots of facts and tidbits of all the major and even minor Characters that played such a vital role in the birth of Texas as part of the United States. "
— Randy, 1/23/2014 -
" A great book! Hard to put down. "
— James, 1/12/2014 -
" A good narrative of the story of the Texas fight for independence and the path to statehood. Fairly informative but not dry. "
— Kate, 1/3/2014 -
" This is a well written book about the history of Texas. The author does a great job of making it not seem like a text book. After recently visiting Austin and San Antonio, it was especially interesting to read. "
— Vicki, 12/21/2013 -
" Tells you how the Texans actually won the Texas Revolution, despite being outnumbered. "
— Judy, 11/17/2013 -
" A great historical account of Texas in its formative years - I enjoyed the fine blend of historical facts and the insight into the people who were caught up in these times. I was reminded of another life I lived as 7th grade Texas History teacher. "
— Emily, 11/8/2013 -
" Nice, concise history of the formation of Texas with special emphasis on the couldn't-make-em-up characters of Austin and Houston "
— Don, 11/4/2013 -
" some parts were interesting and some parts were boring. It was just ok for me "
— Jeffrey, 9/16/2013 -
" The story of Texas is a good one... and this book brings legends like Sam Houston and Davy Crockett to life. Funny. Well-researched and balanced. "
— Kirsten, 8/4/2013 -
" An excellent history of the war that led to Texas eventually becoming a part of the United States. Very insightful. "
— Tom, 6/3/2013 -
" Easy to read history of the Texas revolution. "
— Tom, 2/3/2013 -
" Excellent read - lots of details. Fun to travel in Texas and think about what went on there in the 1800s and what it would have been like to live then. "
— Marsha, 1/13/2013 -
" Wonderful detailed description of the colonization and revolution of Texas with new insights and interpretations. "
— Jarred, 8/30/2012 -
" Wonderfully researched book that illustrates the truth about the birth of the great State of Texas; couldn't put it down. "
— Justin, 3/25/2012 -
" Amazing, amazing read. Utterly fascinating. Almost impossible to put down (except when you have to work. Stupid work). Sam Houston should get more discussion in any history class. I recommend this to all. "
— Ben, 10/29/2011 -
" A great history of the creation of Texas and how it ended up being a part of America. Strong personalities and a great story. Fun read! "
— Del, 8/11/2011 -
" This is history the way it should be written ... smooth, informative, and very, very good! "
— Rick, 7/19/2011 -
" Interesting history, but didn't command my attention continuously. "
— Diane, 3/31/2011 -
" If you want to learn how Texas became, read this book. "
— Kevin, 12/18/2010 -
" This is a well written book about the history of Texas. The author does a great job of making it not seem like a text book. After recently visiting Austin and San Antonio, it was especially interesting to read. "
— Vicki, 12/15/2010 -
" This was a good book, telling the story of the founding of the State of Texas up to the Civial War and including lots of facts and tidbits of all the major and even minor Characters that played such a vital role in the birth of Texas as part of the United States. "
— Randy, 12/4/2010 -
" A great historical account of Texas in its formative years - I enjoyed the fine blend of historical facts and the insight into the people who were caught up in these times. I was reminded of another life I lived as 7th grade Texas History teacher. "
— Emily, 10/15/2010 -
" Tells you how the Texans actually won the Texas Revolution, despite being outnumbered. "
— Judy, 7/11/2010 -
" Interesting history, but didn't command my attention continuously. "
— Diane, 8/30/2009 -
" Excellent read - lots of details. Fun to travel in Texas and think about what went on there in the 1800s and what it would have been like to live then. "
— Marsha, 5/3/2009 -
" Wonderfully researched book that illustrates the truth about the birth of the great State of Texas; couldn't put it down. "
— Justin, 1/13/2009 -
" Wonderful detailed description of the colonization and revolution of Texas with new insights and interpretations. "
— Jarred, 1/12/2009 -
" This is the best account of Texas history I've read. It's informative (with numerous "why was I never taught this in school?" moments) and surprisingly engaging for a chronological history book. "
— Jeffrey, 9/12/2007 -
" A good narrative of the story of the Texas fight for independence and the path to statehood. Fairly informative but not dry. "
— Kate, 6/12/2007 -
" The story of Texas is a good one... and this book brings legends like Sam Houston and Davy Crockett to life. Funny. Well-researched and balanced. "
— Kirsten, 4/24/2007
About H. W. Brands
H. W. Brands has written more than a dozen biographies and histories, including the The General vs. the President, a New York Times bestseller. Two of his biographies, The First American and Traitor to His Class, were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. He holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin.
About Chuck Montgomery
Chuck Montgomery is a skilled narrator who has lent his voice to the works of a number of the world’s most celebrated authors, including H. W. Brands and Pat Conroy. His voice-over credits include Lone Star Nation, My Losing Season, and Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times.